Vermont Electric Bike Laws

Three-class law · State parks: Where bicycles allowed; new policy pending

Act 40 of 2021 (S.66) adopted the three-class system, effective January 1, 2022, and treats an e-bike under 750 W as a bicycle exempt from registration, inspection, license and insurance. Riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike. Vermont has no helmet law for bicycle or e-bike riders of any age.

E-bike classes
Three
E-bike license
No
Class 3 minimum age
16
E-bike helmet
No state rule
State parks
Where bicycles allowed; new policy pending
Moped registration
Yes

By vehicle

Rules for E-Bikes, Stand-Up E-Scooters and Mopeds in Vermont

Vermont rules by vehicle
VehicleDefinitionMinimum ageLicenseRegistrationInsuranceHelmetSidewalksTrails
E-bike, Class 1 and 2Class 1, 2; under 750 WNoneNoNoNoNo state ruleNo state rulePaths unless banned after hearing
E-bike, Class 3Class 3, under 750 W16NoNoNoNo state ruleNo state rulePaths unless agency bans
Stand-up e-scooterNo state categoryNo state ruleNo state ruleNo state ruleNo state ruleNo state ruleNo state ruleNo state rule
Seated e-scooter (moped)Motor-driven cycle: up to 2 hp or 50 cc, 30 mph max16YesYesYesYes, all agesNoNo

Where to ride

Where Each Vehicle May Ride

  • E-bike, Class 1 and 2. Wherever bicycles may ride
  • E-bike, Class 3. Speedometer required; under 16 as passenger only
  • Stand-up e-scooter. Not addressed in state law
  • Seated e-scooter (moped). Treated as a motorcycle

Equipment

Equipment Rules for E-Bikes

Permanent label showing class, top assisted speed and motor wattage; motor cutoff when pedaling stops or brakes are applied; speedometer on Class 3; must meet federal CPSC bicycle standards.

City rules

What Cities and Counties Can Change

A municipality or state agency may ban Class 1 or 2 e-bikes from a path only after notice, a public hearing and a safety finding, may ban Class 3 from a path without those steps, and may regulate e-bikes on natural-surface trails. South Burlington proposed in 2026 to bar e-bikes with motors over 750 W from its bike paths.

Parks and trails

State Parks, Federal Lands and Rail Trails in Vermont

The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has no e-bike rule in its current Policy 4, so e-bikes may use park roads and multi-use trails open to bicycles. Its draft revision, presented to the House Transportation Committee in February 2026, would allow all classes on park roads, forest highways and multi-use trails and Class 1 only on mountain bike trails, with a 20 mph limit; the four rail trails owned by the Agency of Transportation are outside the policy.

Record

Sources

E-bike, Class 1 and 2
23 V.S.A. §4, §1136a; Act 40 (2021)
E-bike, Class 3
23 V.S.A. §1136a(d), (e), (f); Act 40 (2021)
Stand-up e-scooter
none found
Seated e-scooter (moped)
23 V.S.A. §4; Leg. Counsel memo (2026)
Status
Partly verified
Open items
Final adoption of the Forests, Parks and Recreation e-bike policy not confirmed; no state stand-up e-scooter category found; motor-driven cycle helmet and insurance rules inferred from motorcycle treatment
Last verified
Q4 2026